South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Abia state Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has urged all road users in Abia state to obey all traffic rules and regulations these Ember months in order to arrive alive
.
Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by the Commissioner for transport chief Godswill Nwanoruo made this known while flagging off the 2022 Ember months campaign,with the theme ,” Avoid speeding, overloading and unsafe tyres to arrive alive” held at Okigwe park in Umuahia said Abia state government has been collaborating with the FRSC in Abia state to ensure that road Audits are regularly conducted and road infrastructures provided.
He disclosed that Abia government was among the few States that inaugurate the State Advisory Council SARSAC,thereby demonstrating her strength and position as a critical stakeholder in the implementation of the Nigerian Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) of 2021- 2030
He pointed out,” The need to drive safely and save lives by all drivers and other road users can not be over emphasized ,as road safety is a shared responsibility .
” I want to sensitize you on the need to be conscious while plying the roads during these Ember months and beyond” he said.
He congratulated the entire management and staff of FRSC,Abia state on the commendable roles being played by ensuring safety on our roads and reducing Road Traffic crashes and Fatality in the state.
He noted that ,”the theme of this year’s Ember months campaign flag-off,”Avoid speeding, overloading and unsafe tyres to arrive alive” is in line with long term plan of the state government towards promoting and safeguarding lives of the good people of the state through provision of good roads, infrastructures and constituency of roads across the state to improve the quality of road experience and creating a safe motoring environment,added that Abia state has in existence Abia state Passenger Integrated Manifest safety scheme(ASPIMSS) charged with assisting road traffic crash victims which is in tandem with FRSC Ambulance services.
Addressing motorists and others stakeholders at the 2022 Ember months flogged off , the Acting Corp Marshal of FRSC Deputy Corp Marshal Dauda Biu who was represented by the Zonal Commander FRSC RS9 from Enugu, Assistant Corp Marshal Ocheja Isaac
Ameh, disclosed that “Ember months campaign presents us opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the issue of road safety in Abia state and Nigeria in general”pointed out that “Nigerian roads witness high vehicular movement, congestion, roads blockage and traffic crashes during the Ember months hence the reason for the campaign”
He disclosed that as part of the effort to ensure free flow of vehicles,” We will check the excesses of our VIPs and the motorists, especially those that drive against traffic rules”and informed that mobile court sitting will be conducted through out this period.
Earlier in his speech, the Abia state Sector Commander,Corp commander Paul I. Ugwu said that within the period of January to December,2022,Abia had 87 road traffic crashes out of which 50 persons were killed and 386 persons were injured,said from the records,” It is clear that we need to do more collectively in order to accomplish 15% reduction in Road Traffic Crash Fatality in line with FRSC strategic goal of 2022 and that this can be achieved through enhanced Road safety partnership and stakeholders collaboration.
According to him,” One of the many reasons why FRSC is concerned about safe driving during the Ember months is because records have revealed that the rate of crashes,injuries and deaths are usually very high, apparently due to heavy traffic volume and poor road usage by motorists”
He noted that ” It is therefore, necessary to enlighten ourselves on the need to drive safely so that we can arrive alive .
He said that” Fatality and injury rates resulting from Road traffic crashes in Abia State from January to September is higher when compared with that recorded in 2021, said this underscores the need for this campaign to improve our driving habits .
In his response, the Okigwe park chapter chairman of National Road Transport Workers,comrade Ifeanyi Ekweghim expressed appreciation to FRSC for the enlightenment given to them
